Exploring individuals' experiences of hope in mental health recovery: Having a sense of possibility

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 617 - 627
• Main Authors: Murphy, Joan, Mulcahy, Helen, Mahony, James O., Bradley, Stephen, Ryan, Denis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-08-2024
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Hope; hope and hopelessness; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - therapy; Mental health; Mental Health Recovery; Middle Aged; Psychiatric Nursing; Qualitative Research; Recovery (Medical); service user experience and recovery; service user experience and recovery; hope and hopelessness
• ISSN: 1351-0126; 1365-2850; 1365-2850
• DOI: 10.1111/jpm.13013

Accessible Summary
What is known on the subject?
Mental health recovery is acknowledged as a process of transformation and a way of living a meaningful life despite the presence of mental ill‐health.
Experiencing hope has been articulated as intrinsic to service users experience of a meaningful life.
The social construction of mental illness and stigma are recognised as barriers to experiencing hope.
Mental health professionals have responsibility to positively influence the experience of hope.
What this article adds to existing knowledge?
Individuals in mental health recovery experience hope as the embodiment of having a sense of possibility in life.
Individuals' sense of possibility in life is underpinned by a belief and confidence that they will be ok. This belief is informed by ‘feeling safe’ and ‘feeling connected’.
This article generates an increased understanding of the dynamic relational processes that unpin hope generation.
What are the implications for mental health nursing practice?
Mental health stakeholders need to be more explicit in exploring ‘hope’ and uncovering its therapeutic potential.
Mental health practitioners need skill in enabling individuals to feel safe and connected while understanding its role in cultivating hope.
Introduction
The experience of hope is widely acknowledged and empirically supported as a key catalyst of mental health recovery. Lived experience accounts of hope are critical in accessing data on what has been termed a nebulous concept. This article is the second presentation of data from this study and provides further context to improve understanding of hope and optimise its therapeutic potential.
Aim
To explore how individuals describe and make sense of their experience of hope in mental health recovery.
Method
A qualitative Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach was used.
Results
This article explores the second of three experiential group themes: Hope as Having a sense of possibility ‘I will be ok’ which is informed by feeling safe and feeling connected.
Discussion
Having a sense of possibility is easier when basic needs are met and people feel connected to self, others and the universe. The use of creativity as a pathway to the imagination is positively experienced. The role of family, friends and healthcare professionals as hope reservoirs is critical. Finally, the framing of medication use emerged as significant.
Implications for Practice
It is important that all stakeholders appreciate the interpretation of hope and use the understanding and skill in harnessing its therapeutic potential.